Advice on Settling in

Our staff want to make your halls of residence a home from home. We want your accommodation to be a place where you feel welcome and where you can talk to them about any issues. To help you adjust to your new home and settle into halls life, here are a few tips to help you have a happy, healthy time.

Seven ideas to help you break the ice with your flatmates and course mates

1. Keep your door in halls open, especially when you’re moving in.  Having it shut implies that you are not up for a chat or people might even think no one has moved in yet!

2. Help your flatmates move in. If you’ve already moved in but others are arriving, say hello and offer a helping hand.  You could even offer to make them a brew!

3. Go to a welcome event whether it’s a Union of Students event or a halls event, it is another opportunity to meet people and remember, everyone is the same boat and probably just as nervous as you are.

4. Sit next to people in lectures. We know this can be scary especially at your first lecture, but it will pay off in the long run.  Sit next to someone who is on their own too – it might be less intimidating. Be friendly and introduce yourself.

5. Spend time in communal areas. Hanging out in the kitchen or living area of your flat or in your hall common room means you can say hi to anyone popping in and start up a conversation.  Our common rooms have table tennis and pool tables so having a game might also be a good way to break the ice.

6. Say yes to invitations. Don’t shy away from trying new things and doing stuff with new people. Obviously, you shouldn’t feel under pressure to do things you’re not interested in but otherwise be open to new experiences.

7. Organise things to do with others. Sometimes it’s hard to put yourself out there but being brave can often pay off. It doesn’t have to be anything major – you could just ask the person next to you in your lecture if they want to get a coffee or if you’re hanging out in the common room and bump into a flatmate, ask them if they want a game of darts. It is also a good idea to organise a flat dinner or film night.

Get organised

Work out a flat rota for cleaning and taking bins out. It's better to do this early and get it out of the way. Your Hall Manager may have provided you with one to pin on each flatmate's door when it is their turn.

Talk to us

• Go and meet your Hall Manager and RA team. You will see a lot of them throughout the year so go and say hi
• Please talk to your Hall Manager if you have a problem. They have a wealth of experience and are used to helping students with all manner of issues. Remember our door is always open.

Then once the dust has settled keep these things in mind:

Look after yourself

Late nights, lie-ins, hangovers, takeaways, and full English breakfasts can take their toll on your health and well-being so try to establish some good eating habits and keep active. You'll find it'll help with your studies and your overall contentment without compromising on the fun! If you haven't already done it, register with a doctor.

Get to grips with your finances 

Have a rough idea of what you've got to spend each week and try to keep to it. Make the most of special student deals. Most shops offer a 10% student discount too if you show a student ID card. Buy a Totum card to benefit from thousands of discounts and offers. Derby Theatre has cheap £5 deals on lots of shows. Many halls events are free or subsidised, so getting involved doesn't have to be expensive.

See if your flatmates want to buy things in bulk and share the cost. Unibulkbuy is a great website for buying in bulk online. Have a kitty for things like milk which you all need to buy. For good advice on money matters, check out the SMART (Student Money and Advice Rights Team). You'll find it under the Money tile on the UDo app.

Whatever happens, don't bury your head in the sand. Keep an eye on things so they don't get out of control. If you have let your finances run away with you, don't worry, there are people around who can advise you. If you have money worries, talk to your Hall Manager who will be able to signpost you to the Union of Students Advice Team, the University's Wellbeing Team or the Finance Department.

Keep on top of your coursework

Make sure you adopt a good work/life balance so that you are in control of your studies. Speak to your tutor, course representative or someone in our Wellbeing team if you need advice and support.

Keep in touch

The folks at home will be wondering how you're getting on so make sure you keep in touch. It's also worth staying in contact with friends from home. You could arrange for them to come and visit.

And finally...

For more information and advice on living in halls, check out the halls Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.